Hey folks, I"m gearing up to teach a Python-based computer science course. I just spent about a week chugging through the list archives (almost quit at the case-sensitivity debates ;) ). I have a few questions: 1. At several points in the past, people have offered to maintain or posted sites hosting lesson plans. Is there a site for these? Where is it? (For example, this one, http://www.ibiblio.org:420/Zope/Python given in December of last year does not work.) 2. I'm interested in doing some kind of iterative instruction using one project to illustrate a lot of the characteristics and functionality of the language. For example (after Lutz): - start with a simple, hard-coded dictionary of names/addresses (an addressbook). Print them out. - add a simple, text-based UI, allowing user to add, delete, edit entries (input/output/UI) - complexify the data stored and move to file based storage (file io, data stores) - add ability to sort (without built-in methods, to learn the algorithms) - add ability to find (more algorithms) - then, move to a GUI? and then.... (I've got lots of ideas - net-based sharing, file input/output, move to a web-based CGI system, etc - just wondering what people think. Also, would this excite students?) 3. I'd like to include a significant amount of history in the class. Can anyone recommend texts related the two main branches of computer science I'd like the talk about: the history of "calculation", including ancient devices like the abacus, quipu, slide-rule (grin) and the theory of numbers/counter/arithmetic, and the history of the computer, focusing on the 20th century? Thoughts, suggestions, comments, references? 4. I'm wondering what people have done for large-scale projects... I'm thinking along these lines: - a primitive sketch/draw program (nice GUI and object lessons here) - a CGI system for the school (alumni database) - Tic-Tac-Toe (with AI), of course - other games (NIM, etc.) - local school chat program Of course I will let the kids make suggestions also, I'm just wondering where people have gone with this. Thanks much, Rob Robert K. Rickenbrode II rkr_ii@yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com